Sean Wallbridge
What?
A common complaint is that SharePoint site visitors are repeatedly prompted for their login credentials (username and password), particularly when utilizing Document Libraries and opening and saving documents.
So What?
First things first… SharePoint is a complex product in the back end (SQL Servers, IIS, Windows Servers, SMTP, ASP.NET, C#, XML, CSS, WebDAV and several other terms and acronyms you probably don’t care about). And it is important that to protect that investment in time and equipment, that it is secure. So, SharePoint is not going to just let anyone in, to see your data, and if the server is even a little unsure you are who you say you are, it’s going to ask you to present your ID again. Being prompted for your username and password is in your best interest, so stop viewing it as a hassle.
That said, you can do something, to limit how often you enter your username and password.
Now What?
If you trust the computer you are using (at work or at home), configure the following:
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Ensure Pop-Ups are disabled in Internet Explorer, to avoid any disruption or interference with web parts or other custom functionality. Note that while Internet Explorer has a built-in Pop-Up blocker that should be configured, if you have installed other toolbars such as the MSN Toolbar, Yahoo Toolbar or Google Toolbar (and some folks use them all), each one will have its own Pop-Up blocker, and potentially, all should be configured (or stop installing toolbars :-).
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Add your SharePoint Site URL (or your entire domain, such as *.yourcompanysite.com) to the Internet Explorer “Intranet Zone”. Websites in this zone are considered trusted and thus, certain security restrictions are lowered. There is one setting in particular in this zone, that sets it apart from the others, and that is the “Automatic logon only in Intranet Zone” which remembers your username and password and ‘feeds’ it to the site as needed.
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In addition, ensure that the Intranet Zone is actually configured properly and has not been modified. Often, 3rd party programs or other IT Support Initiatives may modify the zone from its defaults. The defaults are generally the best practice way for the zone to be utilized and as such, Internet Explorer gives you the option to revert back to that best practice by choosing the “Reset all zones to default level” button.
Important Note: If you do not trust the computer you are on, such as when using a computer in a hotel, Internet Café, or while visiting another office, you should probably avoid the Intranet zone and at most, utilize the “Trusted Zone”.
If you do not have the ability to change your Security Zone or Pop-Up blocker settings yourself, as it may be controlled and/or overridden by your IT Support Department, you should request the appropriate access and settings from them.
For a short video on adding your SharePoint site to the Internet Explorer Intranet Security Zone, follow this link: